Blaine Perkins Powers to Top-10 Finish at COTA

But Perkins was able to stay steady and smooth all race long to finish 10th in Saturday’s Focused Health 250, even staying cool under the pressure of a failed cool suit.

“It's always a good day to drive a really fast Chevrolet,” smiled Perkins, driver of the No. 31 WERNER Camaro. “Just really proud of all these guys at Jordan Anderson Racing, Bomberio Auto Sport, (for) giving me a really fast piece and it always makes my job a little easier.”

“Had a long day, man. It started off rough, no cool suit, so it made it a long, hot one, for sure. Then, first pit stop had a bit of an issue, so we had to come back down, restart from the rear. But like I said, had a fast car, almost as fast as Xfinity Mobile. It was really important and these guys gave me a hell of a piece and I'm just so proud to be able to drive it and really looking forward to the rest of the year with these guys.”

NASCAR announced a track design change prior to the weekend, where the course would be cut at Turn 6 creating a 6a “shortcut” across the infield. That was where some passing and most chaos occurred, but for Perkins, he was delighted at the change and its raceability.

“I really enjoyed it,” Perkins expressed his opinion of the new course layout. “I’m glad that they changed the track. I think it benefited me. It kind of reminds me a little bit of a corner at Chicago (Street Course). Really tight corners, beating and banging on everybody, but it’s all good fun”

Even though it wasn’t a win in the record books, it was a win for Perkins and his team earning their first top 10 of the season, and moves himself seven positions upward in the drivers championship point standings.

A slightly belated birthday gift was just icing on the cake for him.

“It's always awesome, big confidence booster,” he continued. “Really good birthday present too. Birthday was yesterday so had a really good weekend at the track. Couldn't ask for a better weekend for us and now we can just keep it rolling. Going to Phoenix (Raceway), one of my favorite tracks, and hopefully build on this and just continue to knock out those top 10s.”

The Xfinity Series heads west next weekend for the first time this season at the track home of the Championship Finale later in November. Coverage of the GOVX 200 begins at 5 p.m. ET on Mar. 8 on The CW, MRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.